CSC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CSC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What role does flexibility play in injury prevention? → Improves range of motion and reduces strain
2. Which biomarker is most commonly used to monitor overtraining and excessive physiological stress in athletes? → Testosterone-to-cortisol (T:C) ratio
3. In a horizontal jump (broad jump), what is the theoretically optimal take-off angle for maximum horizontal distance? → 45 degrees
4. Which sleep stage is most critical for physical recovery and muscle repair in athletes? → Slow-wave sleep (Stage 3 NREM)
5. Which theory of motivation is most applicable when designing long-term athlete development programs in a strength coaching context? → Self-Determination Theory (SDT)
6. Which sprint distance is most commonly used to assess linear acceleration ability in field sport athletes? → 40-yard (approximately 36m) or 10-meter sprint
7. What is 'valgus collapse' of the knee and why is it biomechanically problematic during landing? → Inward collapse of the knee medially, increasing ACL strain and patellofemoral stress
8. Why is hydration important in injury prevention? → Keeps muscles elastic and functional
9. According to self-determination theory (SDT), which three basic psychological needs must be met for athletes to maintain intrinsic motivation? → Autonomy, competence, and relatedness
10. Which agility quality distinguishes 'reactive agility' from 'pre-planned agility'? → The presence of a stimulus requiring a decision before changing direction
11. Which of the following helps prevent overuse injuries? → Cross-training
12. Which mechanical variable is most strongly correlated with maximum sprint velocity in elite sprinters? → Vertical ground reaction force during stance
13. What is the benefit of regular assessments in injury prevention? → Identify issues before they cause injury
14. What is the primary mechanism by which creatine monohydrate enhances strength performance? → Replenishing ATP via the phosphocreatine system
15. Which periodization model is best suited for athletes who compete frequently throughout the year with multiple peaks required? → Conjugate/concurrent periodization maintaining multiple qualities simultaneously
16. What is the principle of specificity (SAID) and how does it guide periodization? → The body adapts specifically to the type and demands of training imposed on it
17. Which factor does the Fitness-Fatigue (two-factor) model of supercompensation emphasize? → Performance reflects the difference between fitness gains and accumulated fatigue
18. What does 'ground reaction force' (GRF) represent in sport biomechanics? → The equal and opposite force the ground exerts back on the athlete (Newton's Third Law)
19. A strength coach notices an athlete loses speed significantly after 20 meters in repeated sprint tests. What training quality should be prioritized? → Speed endurance and lactate tolerance
20. What is the main risk of insufficient variation in a long-term training program? → Training plateaus due to accommodation to the same stimuli
21. What daily fluid intake guideline is generally recommended for strength athletes during training periods? → Half an ounce to 1 ounce per pound of body weight
22. Which programming variable is most closely associated with muscle hypertrophy outcomes in resistance training? → Total weekly training volume (sets × reps) across the muscle group
23. What is the primary purpose of tapering nutrition in the days before a major competition? → Ensuring glycogen stores are fully topped off while managing body composition
24. What role does rest play in exercise programming? → They support muscle recovery and prevent overtraining
25. What does 'training density' refer to in program design? → The amount of work performed per unit of time (volume relative to rest periods)
26. What is 'supercompensation' in the context of training and recovery? → The period after recovery when fitness rises above the pre-training baseline
27. When programming speed development, what is the recommended work-to-rest ratio for maximum velocity sprints to ensure full neural recovery? → 1:6 to 1:10
28. Which movement screening finding most directly indicates a hip mobility deficit during a bodyweight squat assessment? → Bilateral heel rise
29. What is the definition of reactive strength index (RSI)? → Jump height divided by ground contact time during drop jumps
30. What is a primary goal of exercise programming? → To create a personalized fitness plan